About Me

Born in Shichido neighborhood of Sakai, outside of Osaka Japan, lived in same neighborhood that Sen No Rikyu was
from, went to school in Michigan, moved to Minnesota to study with
Dainin Katagiri Roshi, moved to Mashiko, Japan to do 3 year
apprenticeship with National Living Treasure Tatsuzo Shimaoka,
established my own kiln and pottery in Mashiko, Japan. Came back to
Minneapolis the summer of 2007. Awarded a McKnight Residency for spring
of 2008 at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. Currently working at my studio in Minneapolis.

Creative Philosophy:

I make and use handmade functional pottery as an antidote to the modern tendency toward the use of things made by machine, things made without heart or beauty, for the mere goal of profit. What makes human beings unique? Not our ability to make things—insects can do this; nor our ability to reason—in the near future, machines will be able to do this. What makes human beings unique is our ability to recognize and cherish beauty. My goal is to make things for everyday use that allow the users to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n, take a breath, and observe the natural beauty that surrounds them."